You get to see great acrobats, clowns, elephants, horses, tigers, high wire acts and so much more.

Every July, the circus comes to Houston.

Philip Astley is the first person to bring together all the elements of the circus in 1768.

In 1793, John Bill Ricketts presents the first circus in America in Philadelphia on April 3rd.

At the circus, you can buy all sorts of things for such a festive event.

J. Purdy Brown is the first to order a canvas tent for his circus.

He realized he would have the ability to move his show every day by using a tent and could therefore reach more people and make more money. This occurred in 1825.

Before the show begins, it’s a good idea to get there early so you can go check out the animals.

By 1829, the circus began using animals they had trained.

Many people miss out on seeing the animals because they arrive just before show time and go to their seats.

In 1872, P.T. Barnum, together with William C. Coup and Dan Castello, moved their entire show in railroad cars, however, small circuses were still traveling by wagon.

You can get a close up view of all of the animals in the show by arriving early and this is cool.

In 1907, the Ringlings purchased the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. By 1919, the Ringling Bros. Circus and Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth are combined into one giant circus.

This new circus was called “The Big Show”.

Here are the well trained horses.

The Big Show does its’ last tented show on July 16, 1956. The show was performed exclusively in arenas after this date.

Many kids want their faces painted like the animals. I think it’s cute.

Performers NEVER eat peanuts backstage. They feel that it’s bad luck all the way around.

Before the show begins, everyone is allowed on the main floor, where all of the activity will be occurring shortly.

Many decades ago, children were often given the day off school to go to the circus as, in the days before film and television, it was the only chance people had to see wild animals.

You can get photos of the pretty circus girls before the show too.

In 1968, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey open Clown College, but women were not admitted until 1970.

I loved getting a pic with one of the clowns.

The word circus comes from the Latin word meaning circle, or ring.

I also got a photo with the Ringmaster, who happens to be a woman. Go Girl Power!!!

It is harder to get into the Ringling Brothers Clown school than Harvard law school.

The circus people were happy to pose for pics.

Joseph Grimalidi is thought to be one of the first circus clowns. He put on his first show in England in 1805. He was known as Joey the Clown. He performed tricks such as tumbling, pratfalls and slapstick beatings.

I had a chicken sandwich before everything got started. It was okay.

For good luck, some performers keep an elephant hair in their pocket, from the tail of the elephant.

I went up in the seating area to show you the full floor where everything takes place.

In 1882 Jumbo, the elephant, is brought to the United States by the Barnum and London Show. The word “jumbo” comes to be used as a synonym for large.